Valve mechanism.



No. 634,253. Patented Oct. 3, l899.

- G. E. WINSLOW.

VALVE MEDHANISM.

(Application filed M512, 1599.} (No Model.) 3 Sheets$hoet I.

'cgnmesaes I gzeo ezzgvmcow J Gfimd; fy Z/QAQW No. 634,253. Patented Oct. 3, 1899..

G. E. WINSLOW.

' VALVE MECHANISM.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1899.!

(No Model.) 3 sheatsesheet 2 {No Model.

lllll l||| i I [NIH H HHIIIIIIIIIIHHI 20 65/66 sees Q q l mi mm STATES PAT-EN rrrca,

VALVE MECHANISM.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,253, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed March 2,1899. Serial No. 707,528. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E.WINsLow,of VValtham, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Valve Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to valve-actu: atingmechanism, and is embodied in a mechanism particularly adapted for use with duplex steam-pumps or analogous machines in which two reciprocating pistons are employed without a balance-wheel and in which the ports controlling the movementof one pis-,

ton are partially or wholly controlled by the movement of the other piston.

The invention is applicable to single-expansion engines or engines in which more than one expansion is used, and it is to be understood, therefore, that in the following description the word, port implies the port or ports in any case which control the movement of a piston in either direction.

It is the object of the invention to so arrange the mechanism that while the opening of the port which starts the movement of one piston is mainly controlled by the movement of the other piston the closure of said port is controlled independently, the said .valve being completely disconnected from said piston at a desired period of the stroke. As herein shown, the closure of the port is accomplished by the movement of its own piston, the closure usually beginning at about the middle of the stroke, so that the steam is gradually cutoff during the latter part of the stroke.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the mechanism that the several parts can be adjusted to suit various conditions, so that the port which admits the steam to drive the piston can be gradually cut off during substantially the entire stroke or rapidlycut oil": during the latter part thereof, or so that the piston which closes the port can also partially open the port at the opposite end of the cylinder to afford a steam-cushion, if necessary, and, in fact, so that the ports can be manipulated in various ways, as will be hereinafter explained.

Through the agency of the mechanism embodying the invention it is practicable to have the two pistons cooperate properly, so as to afford a continuous flow of water, if used in a pump, for example, and at the same time to afford means for cutting off the steam at the desired period of the stroke.

In carrying out the invention each valve is provided with main and supplemental operating devices and a connecting device whereby the said operating devices may be connected and disconnected, one of said devices being under the control of one piston and the other under the control of the other piston. The said connecting device is operated by the piston which is being initially controlled by the valve, so that as soon as the proper port has beenopened and the piston has begun its stroke it will operate to disengage the said operating devices from each other, leaving one of them free to be independently moved after a port-ion of the stroke has been completed. The parts are also so arranged that such independent movement takes place in response to the continued movement of the piston which controls the connecting device, so that the said piston operates to close its own valve. The same movement serves to reconnect said operating devices, (or place them in position to be thus reconnected,) so

that as the opposite piston travels it again opens the proper port of the valve to cause the opposite stroke of the piston first named.

For conveniencein description the main and supplemental operating devices will be hereinafter referred to,respectively, as the opcrating device and the actuating device, the latter being the device which is directly connected with the valve and the former the device which is directly connected with the piston, there being, of course, two operating devices (one for each piston) and two actuating devices, (one for each valve,) while the connecting devices serve to shift the control of the latter from one to the other of the former, as will be hereinafter described. It is to be understood, therefore, that the terms actuating and operating are used arbitrarily and merely for convenience in preventing confusion while describing the operation.

WVhen the actuating device and the operating device are in position to be connected,

there is provision for lost motion corresponding to about half a stroke of the plunger, so that the latter does not operate to open the valve of its mate until it nears the end of its own stroke.

As herein shown, the piston-rods are connected with pivotally-supported arms or levers, each of which is in turn pivotally connected with the operating device. Each of the said arms is also connected with an intermediate member, which constitutes the connecting device, said member being pivotally supported upon the actuating member for the valve belonging to the piston, the said intermediate members having lost motion between engaging portions of the said actuating member,which is directly connected with the valve. The said intermediate member or connecting device is so arranged as to be moved into and out of a position to be engaged by the operating device, such movement being provided for by lost motion aforesaid without affecting the valve itself. Assuming, therefore, that the port at one end of a cylinder has been opened and the piston has started, the initial movement of the intermediate member, which may continue through substantially half or other desired portions of a stroke of the piston, merely serves to disconnect the said mem berfrom the operating device; but at the end of this movement the said member comes into engagement with one of the engaging portions of the actuating device, so that the further movement of the piston is communicated to said actuating device and results in the gradual closure of the valve. The connection between the intermediate member and the operating device may be provided for by means of projections radial to the pivotal axis of the said intermediate member, which projections are arranged to be moved when the intermediate member is rocked on its pivot into and out of the path of the projections from the operating device so that the latter in its movement will engage one of the said projections, and thereby move the intermediate memberand the actuating device to which it is connected.

Figure 1 is a 'side elevation of the valveactuating mechanism embodying the invention, the constructionbeing substantially that which would be employed to operate a duplex pump. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 3, a partial side elevation showing a modification, the pistons being shown at the other ends of their strokes; and Fig. i is a top plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Since the parts which cooperate directly with each of the two pistons are substantially the same in construction, but cooperate also with each other, the same reference-letter in the following description will be applied to said parts, the coacting parts being distinguished from each other by employing different indices, while the same letter and index will be applied to such minor parts as are common to both and do not need to be distinguished from each other in describing the operation.

The piston-rods a and a are operated, respectively, by pistons in the cylinders A and A which are provided in the usual way with a steam-chest A having any suitable controlling-valve to control the ports thereof. The valves are not shown, but are indicated as ordinary slide-valves connected by rods A with actuators?) and b respectively, the said actuators corresponding with the pistonrods a and (L The actuators I) and Z) are respectively provided with operating devices 0 and 0 (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4E as reciprocating members or slide-bars mounted in suitable guides 0 the slide-bar 0 being arranged to be moved through the agency of the piston-rod and the slide-bar 0 being arranged to be moved through the agency of the piston-rod a. To this end the rod to is shown as adapted to cooperate with a swinging lever a connected with a rock-shaft a, which in turn is provided with a downwardly-pr0jecting arm a, connected with a projection c from the slidebar 0 so that the reciprocating movement of the piston-rod a will produce a corresponding reciprocating movement of the slide-bar 0 In the same manner the piston-rod a 00- operates with a swinging arm a connected with a rock-shaft at, extending across the machine, the said rock-shaft having an arm 0?, which is connected with the projection 0 from the rod 0. It is obvious, therefore, that so far as relates to the operating devices 0 and c for the valve-actuators the piston-rod on oneside of the machine is arranged to operate the valve which controls the movement of the piston-rod at the other side of the machine. In accordance with the present invention, however, the cooperation of the valves and their actuating devices is secondarily controlled by a connecting device, which in turn is operated by its own piston.

As herein shown, the connecting devices comprise arms (Z and (P, the arm (l being pivoted at (1 upon the actuator 11 and the arm (Z being correspondingly pivoted upon the actuator 0 Each connecting device is p rovidcd with radial projections (l adapted to engage or be engaged by shoulders or projcctions 0 upon the slide-bars c and 0", respectively, the construction being best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, it we assume that the slide-bar c is traveling in either direction while the connecting member (Z is held relatively stationary it is obvious that the actuator I), which is shown as aleverpivoted at U, will be moved by the engagement of one of the projections c" with one of the radial projections (Z thus producing a corresponding movement of the valve-rod A, which is connected with said actuator. Assuming, now, thatthe slide-bar c has been moved to the left, it will be seen that a corresponding IIO movement of the rod A has been accomplished, thus opening the port at the righthand end of the cylinder A and causing the piston-rod a to move from right to left. The slide-bar c at this period being stationary, since the piston-rod a which moves it completed its stroke, it is obvious that the pivotal support 61 for the connecting device d will also be stationary, and in order that the said connecting device may then cause the said slide-bar to be disconnected from the actuator the said connecting device is arranged to be moved in response to the movement of the piston rod a, this being accomplished through the agency of the arm a, which is provided with an extension 0. connected by a suitable link with the connecting device (1. The movement of the piston-rod Ct therefore rocks the said connecting device upon its pivot until the radial projection ol passes out of engagement with the shoulder 0 as shown in Fig. 2, so that the actuator 11 is free to be moved independently of the slide-bar or operating device 0. The arm a is of course similarly connected with the member d and is provided for the purpose with an extension a, Fig. 4. It is to be understood in this connection that the position shown in Fig. 1 is a neutral positionthat is to say, a position in which all of the ports controlled by the rods A are closed, so that no steam is admitted to either end of the cylinders. The movement already described of the slide-bar, however, causes the actuator I) to be moved to open the valve at the outer or right-hand end of the cylinderA, and the resulting movement of the piston-rod a then operates, as described, to disconnect the operating device 0 from the actuator 19. After the said parts have been disconnected, however, the connecting device 01 comes into engagement with a projection b from the actuator 12, so that the independent movement of the connecting device at on its pivot is arrested, and the further movement of thepiston-rodaistransmitted,through the agency of said connecting device, its pivotal support d, and the engaging portion 12 to the actuator b, so that the said actuator is moved back to its original or neutral position, closing the port previously opened by the operating device 0 andshutting off the steam. In the meanwhile, however, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the slide-bar c has been operated through the agency of the arm a to open the port at the right-hand end of the cylinder A thus causing steam to be admitted to produce a movement from right to left of the piston-rod a This produces a'corresponding movement of the operating devicec from left to right, starting with the piston shown in Fig. 2. At this time it will be seen that the radial projection d at the left-hand side of the connecting member d is in the path of the left-hand shoulder c of the bar 0, so that as the said bar travels it will engage the said shoulder d and move the actuating-rod A from left to right, opening the port at the left-hand end of the cylinder A and causing the piston-rod a to start from left to right. Under ordinary conditions the radial projections 11 are of such length as to permit lost motion of the operating devices equivalent to about half the piston-stroke, so that the port which admits steam to cause the movement from left to right of the pistonrod a does not begin to open until about half the movement from right to left of the piston-rod a has been accomplished. The general operation is thus substantially the same as in most duplex pumps wherein one piston starts in one direction during the latter half of the stroke of the other piston in the opposite direction, so that the operation is steady and regular.

In Fig. 2 the piston-rod a is shown at the end of its stroke, the actuator 19 and the valvestem A being in neutral position, with the steam cut off from the cylinder A. The valve which controls the operation of the piston-rod a however, has been opened by the movement of the operating device 0 so that the said piston-rod (t is ready to start or, in reality, has actually started from right to left. In such movement of the piston-rod the connecting device d will be moved from the posi tion shown in Fig. 2 toward the right until it engages one of the shoulders or projections 19 of the actuating device 12 and in the further movement will move the said actuating device to control its own valve.

It is to be understood that the drawings do not show the exact positions of the various mechanisms at any one time, since an attempt to so show the mechanism would hardly fail to result in confusion. In Figs. 1 and 4, for example, both pistons are shown as in neutral position, although in actual operation they would never both be in neutral position at the same time. In Fig. 2, as has already been stated, the two pistons are shown at opposite ends of the stroke, although it is obvious that by the time the pistonrod ct has reached the position shown in Fig. 2 the other piston-rod, owing to the opening of one of its ports, would have already started in the opposite direction instead of standing, as indicated, at its extreme position.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the lost motion of the connecting device (Z between the projections 1? of the, actuator 19 is substantially equivalent to the full stroke of the piston-rod, so that if We assume the bar 0 to remain stationary and the piston-rod to move back and forth the member d will simply swing from one projection 19 to the other without correspondingly moving the actuator 17. The result of this is that so far as the operation of its own piston is concerned the valve is never moved from its neutral position, but is always restored to said neutral position in either directionthat is to say, one piston-rod in its stroke in one direction opens the port which of its mate simply restores the valve controlling said mate to neutral position, cutting off the steam until the opposite port is again opened by the piston first named. The words neutral position, however, do not necessarily mean a position such that both valves are closed, as in some cases the conditions may be varied, as will be hereinafter described. The parts, however, are described as being in neutral position when they are capable of movement to acertain extent in either direction in response to the action of the opposite piston.

As thus far described the operating device 0 has been referred to as a slide-bar or reciproeating member, it being obvious, however, that this specific construction is not essential for the proper operation of the mechanism. As shown in Fig. 3, for example, the operating member 0 comprises a lever or rocker pivoted coaxially with the actuating device I) and connected by means of a link with the projection or arm e so that the movement of the piston-rod a oscillates the said lever or rocker in a manner corresponding to the reciprocation of the slide-bar c, as hcreinbefore described. The said operating device is provided with projections G which cooperate with the projections (Z as hereinbefore described in connection with the slidebar 0, to afford the necessary connection. The said member C is provided with a lug or projection 0 to which is connected the link which joins the said part with the arm a The opposite member is similarly provided with a lug 0 which is connected with the projection a, the said lugs being shown as differentlysituated, so that the movement of the opposite member may correspond to that of the member 0, although the said movements are in opposite directions, as has already been described. In Fig. 3, moreover, the parts are shown in a position directly opposite to that shown in Fig. 2, the piston-rod a being at the right-hand end of its stroke, with its valves in neutral position, while the piston-rod (t is about to begin its movement from left to right, which results in the movement of the connecting device (Z from right to left until it operates the valve controlled by the actuator b It is obvious that the operation is the same with the construction shown in Fig. 8 as with that shown in the remaining figures, and it is to be understood that the proper operation of the mechanism in accordance with the invention does not depend upon the specific construction shown, since modifications may obviouslybe madeas, for example, byusing reciprocating movements throughout instead of oscillating movements.

As thus far described the apparatus is adapted to operate under normal conditions to completely open the proper port at the beginning of each stroke and to completely close the same during the last half of the stroke.

It is frequently desirable, however, to vary these conditions, and the parts are so arranged that they can be easily adjusted, as may be desirable, under varyingcircumstances. For example, referring to Fig. 1, it will be" seen that by lengthening the connection between the arm (Z of the connecting device and the arm a the initial position of the valve-stem A may be changed, so that in the operation of the pump the port at one end of the cylinder may be opened to a greater extent than the port at the other end, as may be neces sary under certain circumstances. To accomplish this, the position of the operating device should be correspondingly changed with relation to its actuating device, and to this end both the member (Z and the operating device 0 are connected with their actuating-arms by links d and a, respectively, each link consisting of two oppositely-threaded parts connected together by turnbuckles and c. The initial position of the valve with relation to its actuator may also be varied by adjusting the length of the connecting-link, and the rod A is shown as connected with said actuator by means of a two-part link having a turnbuckle. If, however, it is desired to change the operation of the valves without changing the neutral or initial position thereof, the link (1 may be lengthened or shortened without correspondingly lengthening or shortening the link 0 which will thus vary the neutral or central position of the connecting device, so that when the valve is operated by its own piston it will always open one port to a greater extent than it opens the other. This obviously might be desirable in some cases, if through defect or for other reasons it should be necessary to leave one of the ports partly opened throughout the entire stroke, but to close the other port, as hereinbefore described.

It is further desirable to afford means for varying the time of closure of the ports. In other words, it may be desirable in some cases to begin to close the port earlyin the stroke, while in other cases it may be desirable to leave the port fully open until the stroke is nearly completed and then close the same, and this may be accomplished by varying the point of connection between the member (I and the arm 0., which actuates it, with relation to the axis of either or both of the said arms. For this purpose the link (1 is shown as secured in the slot (1 in the member (Z by means of a nut or set-screw (1 which can be loosened and moved along the said slot and fastened at any desired position. If the said point of connection is moved toward the axis or pivotal support of the arm (Z, it is obvious that the outer end of said arm, which cooper ates with the shoulders or projections Z), will have a relatively greater movement, and will therefore come into contact withone of said shoulders much nearer the beginning of the stroke. The consequence is that the valveactuating device is transferred early in the stroke from the control of the operating device o to that of the piston-rod a, so that a more gradual closure of the valve is obtained, beginning early in the stroke. Conversely, if the adjustment is made in the other direction a greater movement of the piston-rod is required to bring the member d into contact with one of the shoulders b and the port may thus be maintained wholly open during the greater part of the stroke and then more rapidly closed toward the end thereof.

The cut-off movement of the operating devices c and 0 can be similarly varied by adjusting the links 0 in the slots 0,15 and a formed in the arms a and a, respectively. It will be seen, therefore, that the valves are capable of proper arrangement for nearly every condition which may arise and that the pump may be properly controlled under any existing conditions.

The specific means for making the adj ustments above described may obviously be varied, and it is not intended to limit this feature of the invention to the construction shown and described as an illustration.

It is to be understood that while the construction herein shown and described fully embodies the invention and is capable of practical operation the mechanism can be largely modified without departing from the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to this specific construction.

I claim 1. In a duplex engine, the combination with the pistons for cylinders A and A of connecting mechanism whereby the A piston is connected with and caused to open the valve of the A piston, and means for disconnecting the said A piston from said valve after it has been opened thereby, said means operating in response to the movement of the A piston, whereby the said valve is free to be operated independently of the said A piston.

2. In a duplex engine, the combination with the pistons for cylinders A and A of connecting mechanism whereby the A piston is connected with and caused to open the valve of the A piston, and means for disconnecting the said A piston from said valve after it has been opened thereby, said means operating in response to the movement of the A piston, and means for closing the said valve in response to the movement of the said A piston.

3. The combination with one of apair of pistons for cylinders A and A as the A piston, of a valve to control the operationof said A piston, means for connecting said valve with the A piston to open one of the ports of the valve and for disconnecting said valve from the said A piston after the said valve has been opened, the connecting and disconnecting means being responsive to the movement of the A piston, and means for subsequently connecting said valve and said A piston where-' by the said A piston is caused to close the previously-opened port of said valve and cut off its own steam.

4. The combination with each piston of a duplex engine, of a valve controlling the same, a main operating device for said valve permanently connected with the other piston, a supplemental operating device permanently connected with said valve, means for connecting and disconnecting said main and supplemental operating devices, and independent means for moving said supplemental operating device when disconnected from the main operating device.

5. The combination with each piston of a duplex engine, of avalve controlling the same, a main operating device for said valve permanently connected with the other piston, a supplemental operating device permanently connected with said valve, means for connecting said main and supplemental operating devices in response to the movement of the piston controlled by the valve being operated upon thereby, and means for then operatively connecting said piston with said supplemental operating device, as set forth.

- 6. In a duplex engine, thecombination with the valves and pistons for the cylinders A and A hereinafter referred to as the A piston and A piston and the A valve and A valve, of a main operating device for the A valve permanently connected with and moved back and forth by the A piston, said operating device being adapted by its movement in one direction to open one port of the A valve and by its movement in the other direction to open the other port thereof, means for disconnecting'said operating device from said valve in response to the movement of the A piston which follows the opening of the valve-port, and means also operating inresponse to the same movement of the A piston for moving said valve in the opposite direction to close the previously-opened port, the parts then being in position to be reconnected with the operating-device as it moves in the opposite direction whereby the same operation is performed to open and close the other port, the A valve also having an equivalent operating device, connecting means, &c., substantially as described.

7. The combination with the valve, of an actuator therefor, a member connected with said actuator and with the piston controlled thereby, said member havinglost motion corresponding to the full stroke of the piston, and an operating device connected with the other piston and arranged to engage said member at its point of connection with the actuator and thereby positively move said actuator and open the valve, the said actuator being then so positioned as to be engaged and moved to close the valve by the member connected with its own piston, the lost motion serving to disconnect said member and operating device.

8. In a duplex engine, a valve to control the operation of each piston, an actuator for said valve,an intermediate member pivoted to said actuator and having lost motion between engaging portions thereof, said member being connected with the piston controlled by said valve, an operating device connected with the other piston, and means for connecting and disconnecting said member and operating device in response to the lost motion of the former.

9. In a duplex engine, the combination with the cylinders A and A of the piston-rods a and a the valves controlling the movement of said piston-rods; an operating device for the valve of piston-rod a connected with and moved by piston-rod a an operating device for the valve of piston-rod a connected with and moved by piston-rod a; and a device cooperating with each of said operating devices for disconnecting it from the valve operated thereby after the said valve has been moved a predetermined distance, as set forth.

10. In a duplex engine, the combination with the cylinders A and A of the pistonrods (1 and a valves respectively controlling the movement of said piston-rods; means for connecting the valve controlling piston-rod a with piston-rod a means for connecting the valve controlling piston-rod a with piston-rod u,- and means cooperating with each of said valves for disconnecting it from the piston by which ithas been initially operated, after such operation has taken place, as set forth. I

11. In a valve mechanism for a duplex engine or analogous machine, a valve for each piston, an actuator for said valve, an intermediate member movably connected with said actuator and having lost motion between engaging portions thereof, an operating device for said valve connected with and moved by the other piston and adapted to engage said intermediate member to thereby move the actuating device, and means for moving said intermediate member into and out of the path of said operating device to permit an independent movement of the actuating device.

12. In a valve mechanism for a duplex engine or analogous machine, a valve for each piston, an actuator for said valve, means for adjusting the position of said valve with relation to said actuator, an intermediate member connected with said actuator "and having lost motion between engaging portions thereof, an operating device for said valve connected with and moved by the other piston, means for adjusting the initial position of said operating device with relation to the piston by which it is moved, and means for connecting and disconnecting said intermediate member and operating device in response to the lost motion of the intermediate member.

13. In a valve mechanism for duplex engines, a valve for each piston, an actuator for said valve,an in termcdiate member connected with said actuator and having lost motion between engaging portions thereof, means for varying the rate of movement of said intermediate member between said engaging portions, an operating device for said valve connected with and moved by the other piston, and means for disconnecting said operating device and said actuator in response to lost motion of the intermediate memberaforesaid. 14-. In a valve mechanism for controlling the operation of cooperating pistons, an operating device for the valve of one piston connected with and moved by the other piston, means for adjusting the position of said operating device with relation to the piston by which it is moved, a valve-actuator adapted to be connected with and disconnected from said operating device, and means for connecting and disconnecting said parts in the operation of the engine, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. In a valve mechanism for controlling the operation of cooperating pistons, an operating device for the valve of one piston coutinually connected with and moved by the other piston, means for varying the extent of movement of said operating device with relation to the extent of movement of the piston to which it is connected, a valve-actuator adapted to be connected to and disconnected from said operating device, and means for connecting and disconnecting said parts in the operation of the engine, substantially as described.

16. In a valve mechanism for controlling the operation of cooperating pistons, an operating device for the valve of one piston continually connected with and moved by the other piston,a valve-actuator continually connected with the valve, a device for connecting and disconnecting said operating device and actuator, the connecting device being operated by the piston controlled by the valve, and means for varying the initial position of said device with relation to said piston, substantially as described.

17. In a valve mechanism for controlling the operation of cooperating pistons, a main operating device for the valve of one piston continually connected with and moved by the other piston, a valve-actuator or supplemental operating device continually connected with the valve, a device for connecting and disconnecting said main and supplemental operating devices, the connecting device being 0perated by the piston controlled by the valve, and means for varying the rate of movement of said device with relation to that of said piston, substantially as described.

18. In a duplex valve mechanism, an actuator for each valve, a member pivotally supported on said actuator and connected with the piston controlled by said actuator, a portion of said actuator adapted to be engaged by said member after it has been moved on its pivot, whereby a further movement of said piston produces a movement of the actuator, In testimony whereof I have signed my and an operating device connected With and name to this specification in the presence of 1p moved by the other piston, said operating detwo subscribing Witnesses.

vice being adapted to engage said member when in the position where it has been left GEORGE WINSLOW by its own piston, and to produce a further 1 Witnesses:

movement of the actuator in the same direcl HENRY J. LIVERMQRE,

tion.

NANCY P. FORD. 

